Minnesota Plant Press The Minnesota Native Plant Society Newsletter www.mnnps.org Volume 31 Number 1 Winter 2012 Monthly meetings Thompson Park Center/Dakota La Salle Lake SRA has a Lodge Thompson County Park landscape to experience 360 Butler Ave. E., by Erika Rowe, Minnesota County Biology Survey plant ecologist, DNR West St. Paul, MN 55118 and former MNNPS board member. Programs As a plant ecologist with the DNR’s Minnesota County Biological Survey, The Minnesota Native Plant I have hiked many miles and seen a variety of landscapes in northwestern Society meets the first Thursday Minnesota. Yet the landscape surrounding La Salle Lake and Creek, just in October, November, December, north of Itasca State Park in Hubbard County, immediately stood out as February, March, April, May, and unique. It felt remote and wild, with steep, rugged slopes with red pine and June. Check at www.mnnps.org balsam fir, rocky ravines with streams bordered by white pine and sugar for more program information. maple, and old-growth cedar seepage swamps. Above the valley, on the 6 p.m. — Social period flatter terrain, expansive oak, aspen and maple forests frame this stunning 7 – 9 p.m. — Program, Society lake and valley. business Fortunately, now others can explore this landscape as well. On Oct. Feb. 2: “Using Plants to Assess 27, 2011, the State of Minnesota purchased approximately 1,000 acres Wetland Quality in Minnesota – surrounding La Salle Lake, establishing Minnesota’s newest state the Next Generation,” by Michael recreation area (SRA). The Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment Act Bourdaghs, research scientist for — specifically the Outdoor Heritage Fund — provided much of the funds the PCA. Plant-of-the-Month: to acquire this property. In addition, an area adjacent to the SRA, north of Tussock sedge (Carex stricta). Hubbard Co. Rd. 9, has been established as a Scientific and Natural Area March 1: “Natural History (SNA). of Maple Syrup Production,” by La Salle Lake, the highlight of this extraordinary landscape, is a large Dr. Stephen G. Saupe, professor, (224 acres) lake that is one of the deepest (213 feet) in Minnesota. It has Biology Department, College of St. 18,600 feet of shoreline, and much of its input is spring-fed. It is remarkably Benedict and St. John’s University. wild and scenic, having never been developed, aside from the very northern Plant-of-the-Month: Black maple edge where a resort caretaker’s home sits along with a few cabins and (Acer nigrum), also by Dr. Saupe. buildings — remnants of the previous owners. March 24: Symposium on Several different native plant communities exist in the La Salle Lake Plants of Minnesota. See page 2. area, and because of the significant April 5: Stalking rare native elevation change throughout the plants,” by Malcolm and Rosemary area and the myriad slope aspects, In this issue MacFarlane, volunteers, DNR the vegetation of the area is March 24 symposium...............2 County Biological Survery. Plant- complex. These natural communities Society news ...........................2 of-the-Month: Least moonwort support a number of rare species La Salle Lake, photos ................3 (Botrychium tenebrosum). including ram’s-head lady Pagami Creek fire ..................4 May 3: “Wild Orchids of slipper (Cypripedium arietinum), New board member...................5 Minnesota,” by Welby Smith, northern oak fern (Gymnocarpium Our 30th anniversary................5 botanist, Minnesota DNR. Plant-of- robertianum), hair-like sedge Do we love our lakes? ..............6 the-Month: Case’s ladies’-tresses (Carex capillaris), trumpeter swans Donation to refuge, easements..6 (Spiranthes casei). Continued on page 3 Plant Lore: Anemone patens ...7 March 24 symposium MNNPS Board of Directors will feature plants President: Scott Milburn, scott. by Scott Milburn, MNNPS president. [email protected] Our approach to the MNNPS Symposium this year differs from that of recent years. We have been focused on regions and landforms, but this is Vice President: Shirley Mah a special year — the Society is marking 30 years as an organization. With Kooyman, shirley.mah.kooyman@ that in mind, the most suitable topic is plants. mnnps.org We have been lining up speakers, and things are moving forward. In Secretary, program coordinator: addition, we are the benefactors of an anonymous donation of $5,000. Andrés Morantes, andres. Rather than donating this money to other organizations, as we have been [email protected] doing over the past few years, we decided that the best use is for the Treasurers, membership data base: Society itself. I am pleased to say that this allows us to bring two prominent Ron and Cathy Huber, ron.huber@ botanists from outside of Minnesota to our symposium. mnnps.org The first is Dr. Don Farrar of Iowa State University, who is well Ken Arndt: board member, field known for his research of moonworts. The second is Dr. Tony Reznicek, trip chair, [email protected] of the University of Michigan. Dr. Reznicek may be best known for his authorship of the sedge component of the Flora of North America series. Michael Bourdaghs: board member, He has also been hard at work updating the Michigan Flora into a one- [email protected] volume publication. The symposium should be a very exciting day. Stay Otto Gockman: board member, tuned for further details. [email protected] The symposium will be held Treasurers’ report Elizabeth Heck: board member, March 24 and will be at the Bell Treasurers Ron and Cathy Huber webmaster, elizabeth.heck@mnnps. Museum of Natural History on the report that the Minnesota Native org University of Minnesota campus. Plant Society’s 2011 income totalled The cost will be $42 for members $17,796. This included $5,384 in Daniel Jones: board member, and $30 for full-time students. I am donations. Expenses totalled $9,515, [email protected] not sure about the times yet, but for a net income of $8,280. Assets of $25,388 include $8,939 Peter Jordan: board member, peter. they will be in the brochures. These [email protected] will be mailed in the beginning of in four CDs and $16,393 in the February. checking account. Mike Lynch: board member, mike. [email protected] Stephen G. Saupe: board member, Minnesota Native Plant Society’s purpose [email protected] (Abbreviated from the bylaws) Field Trips: fieldtrips.mnnps@ This organization is exclusively organized and operated for mnnps.org educational and scientific purposes, including the following. 1. Conservation of all native plants. Memberships: memberships. [email protected] 2. Continuing education of all members in the plant sciences. 3. Education of the public regarding environmental protection of plant Historian-Archives: Roy Robison, life. historian-archives.mnnps@mnnps. 4. Encouragement of research and publications on plants native to org Minnesota. Technical or membership 5. Study of legislation on Minnesota flora, vegetation, ecosytems. inquiries: contact.mnnps@mnnps. 6. Preservation of native plants, plant communities, and scientific and org natural areas. Minnesota Plant Press editor: 7. Cooperation in programs concerned with the ecology of natural Gerry Drewry, 651-463-8006; resources and scenic features. [email protected] 8. Fellowship with all persons interested in native plants through meetings, lectures, workshops, and field trips. Questions? Go to our website: www.mnnps.org 2 woodland warblers. near the east arm of Lake Itasca, La Salle Lake SRA meanders north 11 miles along a Continued from page 1 This extraordinary landscape doesn’t stop at the SRA’s southern narrow valley floor through wet (Cygnus buccinator) and two caddis boundary, however. The entire meadows, shrub swamps and fly species (Oxyethira itascae and O. landscape I outlined for the lowland seepage forests. ecornuta). The area’s abundant and biological survey, a mix of public Four lakes of varying size and diverse habitats are also rich with and private ownership, is a 3,200- depth occur along the creek’s common plants, including 12 species acre corridor stretching from the route. The creek eventually joins of orchids; animals including river confluence of the Mississippi River the Mississippi River just north of otter, gray wolf, fisher, bald eagle, and La Salle Creek to Itasca State La Salle Lake, within the newly osprey, loons; and many species of Park. La Salle Creek, originating acquired SNA. This narrow valley is noteworthy, as it has been identified as a tunnel valley formed during the Quaternary Period and is present at the juncture of two distinct areas of glacial deposits, the Itasca Moraine and the Guthrie Till Plain. Besides the extraordinary natural resources of the La Salle Lake area, named after the French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, it is rich in cultural resources as well. A Native American prehistoric site was discovered in the early 1990s adjacent to La Salle Creek in what is now the new SNA. Ceramic shards recovered from the site have been dated about 3,180 years old, one of the earliest known dates for an Elk Lake Culture occupation in Minnesota. The DNR has initiated the La Salle Creek winds south the new SRA. process to create a master plan to guide development, management of natural and cultural resources, tourism, and recreation for La Salle Lake SRA for the next 15 to 20 years. I encourage those who are interested in providing input on the project to go to: www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_ parks/la_salle_lake and click on the “Get Involved!” hotlink. La Salle Lake State Recreation Area is now open to the public, but recreational opportunities are limited to day use. Wild Ones conference Wild Ones 2012 “Design With Nature” conference will be Saturday, Feb. 25, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Plymouth Creek Center, 14800 34th Ave., Plymouth, MN, 55447.